You are here

Should charity buy lighting system?

Your Legal Questions Answered

Search Questions Previously Answered

Should charity buy lighting system?

Our 501(c)(3) community theatre contracts with a for-profit youth program. One of the youth program supporters donated $8,000 to the nonprofit for an upgrade to the theatre lighting system which is jointly used by both organizations. The for-profit is terminating the contract with the nonprofit and wants to claim the lights as their property. The nonprofit is willing to buy them but is concerned about the tax-exempt donation that was the basis of the purchase. What is the risk to the 501(c)(3) status if the nonprofit group pays the for-profit group for the lights?

I have lots of questions about the ownership of the theater, the operational agreement between the charity and the for-profit youth program, and who actually paid for the system. But the underlying issue implied by your question seems to be whether the charitable community theatre group may pay money to buy a lighting system that was already purchased with the proceeds of a charitable contribution. I am assuming that you issued a gift receipt and the donor took a charitable contribution deduction for the donation. Otherwise the donor would have given the funds directly to the for-profit.

In the absence of some prior agreement, I think you have the much better side of the argument about ownership of the system. If you are in a state with an activist attorney general, you might get some help in pressing your case. You might also want to consider whether taking the dispute public would put some pressure on the for-profit. The amount is obviously too small to litigate.

If you cannot negotiate a good settlement, you can always spend some money to resolve a legitimate dispute. Even if you paid the full $8000, you aren’t likely to lose your (c)(3) exemption. It sounds like too great a payment to get back what appears to be rightfully yours, however.

Read the Current Issue

June Webinar

Major Pitfalls for NonprofitsThursday, June 21, 2018
1:30-3:00 PM ET(PA CLE & CPE credit is available for this webinar)

This webinar will provide a high-level view of some of the major potential pitfalls for nonprofit organizations that can undercut your entire program. You don't want to deal with a governmental investigation or private litigation if you can avoid it. And you want to be sure that you resolve the issues quickly and favorably if you can't. You don't want to be diverted from pursuing your mission.

Subscribe

Here's what our readers say about Nonprofit IssuesThanks again for your excellent and helpful website - it's a wonderful resource for the non-profit community! --Stephanie H.

Thank you for your informative and keen advice on nonprofit matters. I believe it's a unique and concise place to get answers to this often wispy area called nonprofit. --Richard T.

Sign-up for our weekly Q&A; get a free report on electioneering

Fill-out the form below to receive periodic updates from us.

Email *

First Name *

Last Name *

Leave this field blank

None of the information on the Nonprofit Issues® Website should be deemed legal advice or should be acted upon without prior consultation with appropriate professional advisors.
Materials prepared by Nonprofit Issues® contained in these pages is copyrighted by Nonprofit Issues®, Inc., 2009-2018.